International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:556-563
© International Epidemiological Association 2001
Environmental Health |
Prevalence of asthma and other respiratory symptoms in children living near and away from opencast coal mining sites
a Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
b Department of Statistics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Tanja Pless-Mulloli, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. E-mail: Tanja.Pless-Mulloli{at}ncl.ac.uk
Abstract
Background Public concern about respiratory conditions prompted the investigation of asthma and other respiratory diseases in children living near and away from opencast coal mining sites.
Methods We selected all 4860 children aged 1–11 years from five socioeconomically matched pairs of communities close to (OC) and away from (CC) active opencast sites. A postal questionnaire collected data on health and lifestyle. Outcomes were the cumulative and period prevalence (2 and 12 months) of wheeze, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory symptoms.
Results The cumulative prevalence of wheeze varied from 30% to 40% across the ten communities, it was 36% in OC and 37% in CC. The cumulative prevalence of asthma was 22% in both OC and CC, varying between 12% and 24%. We found little evidence for associations between living near an opencast site and an increased prevalence of respiratory illnesses, or asthma severity. Some outcomes such as allergies, hayfever, or cough varied little across the study communities. Others, such as the use of asthma medication, the number of severe wheezing attacks in the past year or tonsillitis showed large variation. These similarities and variations were not explained by differences in lifestyle factors or differences in health services delivery and remain unexplained.
Conclusions There was little evidence of an association between residential proximity to opencast mining sites and cumulative or period prevalence of respiratory illness, or asthma severity. Some variations in health outcomes between communities remained unexplained.
KEY MESSAGES
- There was little evidence for an association between children's residential proximity to opencast mines and the prevalence of asthma, wheeze, bronchitis or other respiratory illnesses.
- The prevalence of respiratory symptoms in children in the rural and semi-urban study communities was similar to that in other studies.
- There was considerable unexplained variation in some health outcomes without a discernible pattern.
Keywords Opencast coal mining, respiratory health, cumulative prevalence, air pollution, dust, asthma, children
Accepted 2 November 2000
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